Implementation: Enhancement
After living in a house for a while, you may start thinking about things you could change or expand. Maybe it's adding a new room for a baby or building a patio.
Maintaining a website is important, but if you want people to continue to visit you need to enhance your web presence.
Simple Enhancements
Start with simple enhancements. When you first build a website you don't have time for elaboration. Try these ideas:
- Accessibility. Go back through your website and seek ways that you can promote access. For example, add more description to your image ALT tags. Create a text-only version of an interactive element of your website.
- Styles. Create a new CSS. Change the colors, fonts, or styles.
- Visual Elements. Get rid of the clip art at your website. Replace it with local photographs. Be sure to get permission if you use close-up patron photos. Or, get young people involved with designing logos and visuals for the children's section.
- Refine. Look at your usability test. Seek small things that will increase usability. For example, you might refine the navigation system or add an orientation feature.
- Interactivity. Look for ways to make your website more dynamic. Add a news feature or "reading tips" section. Create a weekly quiz or search challenge.
Elaborate Enhancements
If you have time, consider larger projects that will really impact use of your website. Try these ideas:
- Flash. Learn to use Flash and create animations. How about a tutorial or virtual tour?
- Current Events and News. Add a blog to your website and keep it up to date with current news and events. You might include book reviews, reading suggestions, and event information.
- Calendars. At first, a calendar can be hard to maintain. Consider getting a volunteer to help.
- Audio or Video. Think of ways to use the power of audio and video at your website. How about adding a podcast or videotaping local events? Create videos of story tellers sharing local folklore. Create "how-to" videos by local volunteers.
- Electronic Materials. Are there electronic materials that could be shared online? Look into digital subscription services to e-books, database, audiobooks, and other options.
- Digital Collections. Look for a local collection of information that could be digitized and shared online. For example, how about oral histories related to your town, a history of your courthouse, or a virtual tour of a local nature park?
- Services. Add a new virtual service such as an e-mail help center, virtual reference assistance, or online book club.
- Social Aspects. Consider an interactive element such as a chat, forum, collaborative writing space or other services to connect users together.
- Individualize. Is there a way to personalize or customize the website for individual users?